Lance Armstrong

Fast. Determined. Persistent.

For over two decades, celebrities have entrusted Coping® to tell the world about their personal experience with cancer. We are proud to present this exclusive interview from our archives and hope that it will inspire and encourage all who read it. This article was originally published in Coping with Cancer magazine,
March/April
1998.

Lance Armstrong's ability to focus on a goal has taken him from start to
finish, usually ahead of the pack. These characteristics and a proclivity for
overcoming challenges prepared this cyclist to face Olympians in Barcelona,
professionals in the Tour de France, and testicular cancer.

In 1991, Armstrong was the U.S.
National Amateur Champion. The
following year, he came in 111th out
of 111 in the World Cup Event in
Spain. While others might have quit
in disgust, Lance remained undaunted.
"I was dead last," he says about that
race, "but at least I finished. About
200 guys started the race and about 80
quit." Back in the saddle again, Lance
won a stage in Spain's Tour of Galicia
a week later.

If that comeback made 1992 a
dynamic year for the young Texan,
1993 was dynamite. In his first year
as a professional, Armstrong gathered
10 wins and trained like a race horse,
riding 500-600 miles per week in
25-30 hours. During this year, he
reached both World and U.S. PRO
Championship status, won the Triple
Crown, and took Team Motorola into
the top five world-ranking teams, a
first for the United States.

"I was dead last ... but at least I finished.
About 200 guys started the race and about 80 quit."

Armstrong was the 1995 Tour Du
Pont Champion, became a Stage 18
winner of the Tour de France, and was
named the VeloNews American Male
Cyclist of the Year. Lance seemed to
hit his stride as he headed into 1996.
He repeated his 1995 successes in the
Tour de France and the Tour Du Pont,
and had signed a two-year contract to
race for legendary French racing team
director, Cyrille Guimard, when suddenly his life turned upside down.

In a press conference on October 8,
1996, Armstrong announced he had
been diagnosed with an advanced form
of testicular cancer six days earlier.
Doctors at St. David's Hospital had
successfully removed the malignant
testicle on October 3, but further tests
showed the cancer had spread to his
abdomen and lungs. During his first
cycle of chemotherapy, Lance's medical team consulted with other oncologists at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
and Indiana University, who suggested
a brain scan. The results confirmed
that cancer had reached the brain.

Although the hospital staff assured
Armstrong that his lesions were small
and easy to reach, there was no avoiding the fact that he was facing brain
surgery. He was told that his chances were less than 50 percent.

Had he known all of this from the
beginning, Lance admits he would have
been terrified. "It worked out better
that I got the news gradually," he says.
"The odds I faced were distracting and
upsetting but, as bad as they were,
I viewed them as a little bit of hope
because they could have been worse."

With his eyes on the glass half full,
Armstrong entered the biggest event of
his life. The young man who had made
sport out of precision and endurance
was now in the hands of medical professionals who were experts in both.

During six hours of surgery, two silver-dollar sized holes were drilled in
the top and back of his head. Electronic technology in the hands of skilled
surgeons resulted in the successful location and removal of the virulent cells.

In January 1997, the Lone Star athlete returned to training. Unfortunately,
his French team sponsors soon withdrew their support. "I wasn't treated
very fairly in that situation," Lance
says, "but it just goes to show you how
people will react to you and treat you
as a cancer patient."

Once again, the comeback kid
chose to see this challenge as a detour
rather than a stop sign. In October
1997, one year after announcing his
cancer diagnosis, Lance called another
press conference.

"This past year has been the greatest year of my life," he said, surprising
only those who did not know him well.
"I have spent most of my time battling
for my life." Next, Lance took time to
thank family members, friends, business associates, sponsors and fans.
"Thank you for believing in me, and
continuing to support me in my darkest
hour," he said.

Finally, Armstrong announced
his decision to ride for the U.S. Postal
Service Professional Cycling Team in
1998. "I am extremely excited to be
riding not only for an American team,
but for one that has stepped up and
shown me that they truly believe in
my ability to stage a comeback in
professional cycling."

Supporters can follow Lance
Armstrong's progress by visiting his
website at www.lancearmstrong.com.
The website includes detailed information about Lance's career, his current
training program, the Lance Armstrong
Foundation, and the May 23, 1998,
charity event, Ikon Ride for the Roses.

Fans who have followed Lance
Armstrong since he won the Iron
Kids triathlon at 16 will find a different competitor in the peloton. He is
still fast, determined and persistent.
But he no longer lives to race.
He races to live.